Reading Between the Lines

Shadowy Solutions, Book 3

De: Nicky James

Narrado por: Nick J. Russo

Officially boyfriends and business partners, Tallus and Diem take on a new case in a small town outside of Toronto, where the police have deemed the death of a teen an accident, but the mother isn't so sure.

©2025 Nicky James (P)2025 Nicky James

Amazing!!!

This is my FAVORITE of Shadowy Solutions so far. I was absolutely hooked on the mystery, and I adore these two coming together so genuinely 😭 I feel like Diem made real strides forward while living with his struggles. And who can’t love Tallus? But let me tell you, the way Diem bodily protects Tallus in this one is one reason why Size Difference is elite.

A wonderful continuation!

I love opposites attract so much, and Diem and Tallus’s dynamic has filled that space for me from book 1. The mystery was intriguing, with no shortage of twists and turns, and the B&B from hell had me cracking up every time 😂

Major kudos to Nick J Russo for another stellar performance! I’ve started waiting for the audiobooks to experience these books for the first time, because I’ve been conditioned to need his accompanying narration! I’m especially in awe of his voice for Diem - it embodies gruff Diem to a T. Highly recommend these for anyone looking to jump into this series!

They’re boyfriends!

Tallus and Diem are back! Woohoo!

Every time Nicky James publishes a new audiobook, I kind of lose my mind. I binge the book and soak myself in her men. Then I sit down to write a review and struggle to find the right words to convey how amazing the experience of listening to her audiobooks is.

So…Tallus is studying for his PI licence. And is just 10 hours away from completion – as he reminds Diem every 10 minutes when trying to justify his actions. Diem, for his part, has nabbed a job in a small-town outside of Toronto – too far to commute. It’s clear there’s no case. It’s also clear he needs the money. Since his new client is willing to pay…he goes. And brings Tallus with him.

Okay – quick aside. The description of the B&B had me in stitches because that was basically my grandmother’s house minus the clocks. Sorry, Nanny, had to be said. I hadn’t been comfortable in her place and I sure wouldn’t have been in the B&B. So Diem had my complete empathy.

Aside over.

Tallus is more empathetic to the victim’s mother than Diem is capable of being (or at least so Diem contends). Which is why Diem brought his boyfriend in the first place. Yes, they’ve actually upgraded from f- buddies to boyfriends. Half the time I don’t think Diem can believe this either.

Now, this case is all about high school students. They’re better than 8th graders – but not by much. I don’t miss high school and these mouthy teens give Tallus and Diem a run for their money.

But all is not as it seems and it’s up to the two sleuths to solve the mystery.

I’ll be honest and say I did guess at one element early on, but the rest came as a surprise to me. Again, as with all of Nicky’s mysteries, this was well done. I loved it.

Nick J. Russo is brilliant in his portrayal of the two men – especially Diem’s rough voice. Everything about these stories just clicks and I’m thrilled to see there’s another one coming! Woohoo. So yes, you want to grab this one. And all the others if you haven’t and thank you for the Valor and Doyle cameo. More please!

Great narration

Nick does such a great job on both Diem and Tallus’ voices. I love this series and this one may be my favorite so far.

Small town, BIG SECRETS. and lots of clocks?

i was never a murder mystery Girly, After reading these books more and more i don't know if its how Nicky writes them or if its how things go but they are really growing on me.... Like Talus is to Diem!
a small town having a big issue, with you guessed it A TWIST! from the beginning to the end its all right there but you just need to make the connections,
my ONLY Issue is that Talus, wont stop complaining, but once Diem complains talus jumps his bones about it. or does the Full steam ahead INTO DANGER! the Number 1 rule of murder mysteries! never go ALONE!.

Better and Better

Nick Russo is perfect for this series. I don't know of anyone else who could do justice to Diem. This is fast becoming my all-time favorite series, and I can't wait for the next installment. Nicky James does a beautiful job of slow character development. Can't wait for the next installment. Some series seem forced after the first and second installment, but this just gets better. It's in my "repeat listen" list.

⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS ⭐️⭐️

In this book, I really enjoyed the relationship between Tallus and Diem more than I have in previous books. They felt more comfortable with each other, and I could really sense their connection. The case they were working on was another highlight for me—it was definitely the part I enjoyed most. I love a good mystery that keeps me guessing and doesn’t get figured out too quickly, and this one definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. Diem has a lot of baggage, which I’m not always a fan of, but he’s slowly growing on me. It was also great to revisit some old friends in this book, though I still miss Valor and Doyle so much! The ending wrapped everything up perfectly, and now I’m eager for the next one.

As always, the narration is spot on!

Can feel the emotions

Tallus and Diem are back. About 6 weeks after the last book, this core of this story occurs. This story starts at the end and then begins the retelling of the recent past. Love how they get engaged in a new case. A case filled with many twists and turns to keep both the reader and the characters on their toes. There are multiple characters that the guys have to interact with to work through the case. All these characters add great value to the story. The romance between Diem and Tallus continues to grow. I love the evolution of their relationship throughout this story. There are a few other things that stick out. The dog, the clocks, and so much more. What a great story.

Updated for audio:
Just love Nick Russo's portrayal of these guys. He must get tired of doing the deeper voice for Diem. He did an excellent job of emphasizing the emotion in this story. You could feel the emotions. The audio was just as excellent as the read through.

So Happy Diem & Tallus Are Finding Their Way

I love the grumpy/sunshine dynamic and Diem & Tallus are one of my favorites. This third book in the series is great! Diem and Tallus' relationship is evolving into something solid. Diem continues to break my heart with his struggles and he fights so hard to connect. I love how Tallus supports him and helps nudge him to open up. Add in a really intriguing mystery with enough twists and turns to keep me engaged and I didn't want to stop listening. The narration was superb and I am so glad there is going to be more books in this series.

emotional

Nick J Russo's voice for Diem is perfection. Diem is learning how to deal with his emotions and it just bleeds through the voice acting. And even though I want to wring Tallus's neck a few times, one chapter in particular, he's so good for Diem. They're relationships develops significantly in this book. Can't wait for the next one.